What Will Inevitably Happen to God’s Creation?

Biblical Authority Devotional: The Seventh C, Part 6

Steve Ham, AiG–U.S., discusses how the consummation will bring about a restoration of creation.

But according to His promise we are waiting for a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (2 Peter 3:13)

Today’s big question: what will inevitably happen to God’s creation?

It is an immensely horrifying history. When Adam first brought sin into this world, the consequences were devastating. Genesis 3 gives us an account of these consequences, including separation from God, thorns and thistles, marriage difficulties, and more. The perfect creation was corrupted by sin, and we now face those consequences.

As we continue to consider the seventh C, we need to look at how the first two C’s (Creation and Corruption) help us understand the Consummation. The Bible plainly teaches that God created everything in six days, and at the end of the Creation Week He said creation was very good. God has also revealed to us that death, suffering, disease, hardships, etc., are consequences of mankind’s sin. Nowhere in Scripture is there any doling out of consequences for sin before Adam’s first sin was committed.

In today’s verse and in the wider context of 2 Peter 3, God has revealed there will be a day of restoration. Because of Christ’s victory on the Cross, we await a day when His victory will be fully realized in all of creation. This corrupted creation will not remain under the curse forever—one day God will make all things new (Revelation 21:5). Satan apparently thought he could defeat God’s plan for a perfect creation by tempting Eve to sin, but he will have no victory. The Consummation will result in Satan’s eternal condemnation and the perfect restoration of God’s creation.

Those of us who are in Christ will experience the everlasting glory of God displayed in the new heavens and the new earth. The seventh C of history will be an everlasting existence with God in a creation that can never again be corrupted.

The knowledge of the new heavens and new earth reminds us that the days of this present world are numbered. Paul told the Galatians that we are saved out of this present evil world through Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:3–5).

There are only two places where people will reside forever: eternal destruction or eternal restoration. Where will you spend eternity?

Today’s big idea: this world’s days are numbered but the restored creation is forever.

What to pray: thank God that His eternal victory will bring an eternally beautiful restoration of creation.